EXERCISE BERSAMA PADU 06

INTRODUCTION

1.            Singapore is hosting the inaugural Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) Ex Bersama Padu (BP) from 4 – 22 Sep 06. BP 06 builds upon earlier FPDA exercises (Ex Bersama Lima in 2004 and 2005) in the FPDA exercise cycle, and focuses on exercising FPDA armed forces in the conduct of joint operations in a multi-threat environment. BP 06 is the largest and most complex FPDA exercise to date. In the conventional area, BP 06 will involve more interactions among the Air, Naval, Land and Logistics components at the operational level. In the non-conventional area, the exercise will feature Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO), as well as an expanded and more complex maritime security serial with increased participation by Other-Government Departments (OGDs), such as Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA).

EXERCISE PARTICIPANTS

2.         A total of 21 ships, 85 aircraft, one submarine and 292 HQ staff personnel are involved in the exercise.  Support components, including diving teams, Ground-based Air Defence (GBAD) elements and other supporting elements, will also participate in the exercise.

3.         A list of the contributions from each of the participating countries is as follows:

	FPDA FORCES			FPDA STAFF PERSONNEL
	NAVAL	AIR
ADF	HMAS DARWIN HMAS STUART HMAS GASCOYNE Dive team	10 x F/A 18 5 x F111 2 x AP3C 1 x B707T 1 x LR35  114 MCRU		45
MAF	KD JEBAT KD  KASTURI KD LAKSAMANA TUN ABDUL JAMIL KD JERAI MV MAHSURI (MIOPS Target Ship)   Dive Team Spotter	6 x MIG29 4 x F/A 18D 4 x Hawks 1 x B200 MPA 1 x KC130M 1 x C130 1 x CN235 1 x NURI 1 x NURI 1 x Falcon 310/320 SQN 401 SQN 31 RAR RMN ADU		51
NZDF	HMNZS TE KAHA HMNZS ENDEAVOUR Dive team		1 x P3K		29
SAF	RSS VALIANT RSS VENGEANCE RSS SEA WOLF RSS FEARLESS RSS RESILIENCE RSS BEDOK          RSS KALLANG MV KENDRICK RSS RESOLUTION Dive team RSS CONQUEROR		12 x F16CD 8 x F5ST 2 x F50 1 x E2C 1 x KC130 1 x SP 2 x CH47 1 x 35mm 2 x IH FU 201 SQN		84
UKDF	HMS WESTMINSTER HMS ECHO		6 x GR4 6 x F3 1 x E3D 1 x VC10 3 x DA20 148 BTY		51
HQ IADS	NA		NA		32

EXERCISE SCENARIO

4.         The Exercise is divided into 3 phases:

            a)            The Pre-Exercise Training and Planning Phase from 4 – 8  Sep 06.

            b)             The Training Phase from 9 – 16 Sep 06, when training at various levels will be conducted for the maritime and air units.

                        c)     The live exercise phase from 17 – 21 Sep 06, during which the exercise will be conducted by the FPDA Tactical Forces at sea.

5.      The exercise will be held in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, as well as in the South China Sea. A Maritime Interdiction and Operations (MIOPS) serial will be conducted during the live exercise phase, building upon past exercises to involve more complex exercise play. Other government departments participating in the MIOPS are Singapore's Police Coast Guard (PCG), Maritime and Port Authority (MPA), Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Singapore Customs (SC).

BRIEF BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON FPDA

6.         Since its formation in 1971, the scope of FPDA activities has expanded considerably. In the area of conventional capabilities, the FPDA has made significant progress in developing jointness since 2000, when it shifted its focus from air defence to the development of joint capabilities. Over the years, FPDA exercises have become more joint and complex, with greater integration of the air, naval, land and logistics components.

7.         In light of the emergence of non-conventional threats in the security environment, the FPDA Defence Ministers agreed in 2004 that the FPDA broaden its scope to include the development of capabilities to address non-conventional threats. Since then, maritime security serials have been successfully integrated into FPDA exercises, with increasing complexity. The participation of non-military agencies, such as Singapore's PCG and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), in FPDA maritime security serials has increased the training and professional value of these exercises.

8.         The FPDA's ability to adapt to the changing security environment to further develop its conventional and non-conventional capabilities has enabled it to remain relevant to the needs of its members. Over the past 35 years, the FPDA has become an integral part of the regional security architecture and continues to contribute to regional stability. The FPDA also serves as a useful forum for dialogue and exchange of views among the Defence Ministers and senior defence officials of its member states.